Sat Jun 28 14:56:32 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Does Flattery Influence Trump’s Foreign Policy? A Look at Global Leaders’ Strategies**

**Washington D.C.** – As the world grapples with the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House, global leaders are employing diverse strategies to navigate relations with the former President. A recent NATO pre-summit news conference saw Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte use the analogy of separating children to describe the Israel-Iran conflict, earning a playful “Hey Daddy” remark from Trump and a White House video set to music. But does such flattery genuinely influence Trump’s policies?

The article suggests not. Despite efforts to appease Trump with compliments and gestures, many world leaders have failed to sway his decisions on key issues like military aid to Ukraine or trade deals. While some leaders, like Rutte, have openly praised Trump’s past efforts to engage with Russia, others, like UK’s Keir Starmer and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, have attempted to appeal to his desire for international recognition and deal-making abilities through flattery. In Starmer’s case offering him a letter from King Charles III containing an invitation for an unprecedented second state visit to Windsor Castle.

However, such tactics appear to have limited impact. Trump froze military aid to Ukraine the following month. Meloni has also failed to secure a state visit to Rome.

Conversely, respectful firmness seems to yield more tangible results. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney firmly rejected Trump’s annexation ambition and Denmark also stood its ground. This suggests a direct approach, grounded in national interests and clear boundaries, may be more effective in shaping Trump’s foreign policy decisions.

Experts argue that a strategy solely focused on “making Trump feel good” achieves little, merely postponing difficult decisions. Ultimately, the article suggests that while personal relationships may play a role, Trump’s foreign policy decisions are driven by his own set of priorities, and calculated firmness can be more effective than mere flattery in influencing his actions.

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